On the 11th in the morning, the construction site of the Saemangeum-Jeonju Expressway linking Saemangeum and Jeonju in North Jeolla Province appeared to be nearing its final stage. The road had taken shape enough for large buses to enter the site. Beyond the site, cars were passing on the expressway toward Suncheon.
Korea Expressway Corporation held a briefing at the Saemangeum-Jeonju Expressway site that day. An official at Korea Expressway Corporation said, "The current progress rate is about 97%, so we will open safely as scheduled."
The Saemangeum-Jeonju Expressway runs a total of 55.1 kilometers, starting from the Saemangeum seawall, consolidating with the Iksan-Jangsu Expressway, and extending into the mountainous areas of Wanju, North Jeolla Province. The total project cost is about 2.74 trillion won, with construction starting in May 2018 and opening slated for the end of this year. Some sections, including installation of the Kimje-Wanju Hi-Pass, have had their construction periods extended through Dec. 2027, an official at Korea Expressway Corporation explained.
The expressway will have three interchanges, four junctions, and four service areas, and will include a total of 105 bridges and seven tunnels. Notably, long tunnels measuring 3.8 kilometers and 3.6 kilometers are located along the route. Thirty-seven construction companies, including GS Engineering and Construction, took part in the build.
When the Saemangeum-Jeonju Expressway opens, it will consolidate with four expressways: the Seohaean Expressway, the Honam Expressway, the Suncheon-Wanju Expressway, and the Iksan-Jangsu Expressway. In addition, because the Saemangeum Development and Investment Agency aims to craft a megacity development strategy by securing a wide-area transportation network including expressways and a new port, the opening of the expressway is important.
The Section 4 construction site that hosted the briefing covers a 10.4-kilometer stretch connecting Sangdong-dong in Gimje City, North Jeolla Province, to Eungyo-ri, Iseo-myeon, Wanju County. With a progress rate of 97.5%, most of the site was already passable for vehicles. This section will include 18 bridges, one service area, and the Iseo Junction consolidating with the Honam Expressway.
A Section 4 site official said, "We will finish the remaining work such as paving, guardrails, and soundproof walls by the end of September, and complete signage and lane marking by the end of October," adding, "We will build a top-tier expressway through thorough safety, quality, and schedule management."
Korea Expressway Corporation said that once the Saemangeum-Jeonju Expressway opens, access to the Saemangeum area will improve, shortening travel distance (62.8 km→55.1 km, down 12%) and reducing travel time. Travel time from Saemangeum to Jeonju is also expected to be reduced by 57%, from 76 minutes to 33 minutes. Including reduced traffic accidents and revitalization of the regional economy, annual benefits worth about 200 billion won are expected.